GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Gustav Nyquist didn’t expect to be back in Grand Rapids, but the perennial prospect of the Detroit Red Wings has thought that before, too.

The forward participated in his latest first practice with the Griffins on Tuesday after he was returned from Detroit following a productive preseason with the Red Wings.

Nyquist was a roster casualty as the only Detroit forward available to move with a two-way contract and not have to go through waivers. He has two more NHL games available before he loses that exempt status.

“We like him,'' general manager Ken Holland said Monday. “He's a guy we want on the team sooner than later, but unfortunately, we've got some difficult cap issues and we'll start out the way we start out and sort out as we go.''

Nyquist was at Griffins’ morning meeting and practiced Tuesday at Griff’s Ice House. Coach Jeff Blashill plans to have him available for the season opener Friday at Rochester.

“I really didn’t want to think about it too much,” Nyquist said of going back to the Griffins. “I took camp as an opportunity to take a spot on the roster and, obviously, I knew this was a possibility. But in camp, you’re just focused on playing as well as possible.”

Nyquist realized he was in a difficult position despite playing well in the Red Wings’ eight preseason games.

“I was happy with my camp,” he said. “It’s a just a hard team to take a spot on. A lot of guys and a lot of forwards.”

This marks the fifth time since the start of last season that the 24-year-old Nyquist has been returned to Grand Rapids from Detroit. His last visit came after the Red Wings had been eliminated from the playoffs and he joined the Griffins’ Calder Cup playoff run. He came on board with center Joakim Andersson and defensemen Danny DeKeyser to help the franchise win its first AHL championship.

When Nyquist left Grand Rapids previously, in mid-March, he was leading the AHL in scoring. He finished the season 60 points (23-37-60) in 58 games. He added seven points (2-5-7) in 10 playoff games.

With the Red Wings last season, he has six points (3-3-6) in 22 regular-season games and had five points (2-3-5) in 14 playoff games.

Blashill on Tuesday acknowledged Nyquist’s disappointment.

“There’s a human element to it with him that’s real, and it’s not easy,”” he said. “…But part of being successful in pro sports is working through the different road bumps that you have to face.

“Gus has proven in the past that he’s mentally tough to do it, and I believe he will be able to do that, and continue to get better. And Gus has to realize that, too – that he has to be a better player when he goes back to Detroit than when he got here.”

Now, Nyquist prepares for his latest return and with no idea how long this latest visit will last.

“Nothing was said,” he said of his possible return date to the Red Wings. “But I look at it that maybe I can be a little bit of a role model. I’ve had some games up with Detroit so I’m just going to try and be a little bit of a leader down here and show them what it takes.”